Chiropractic table with adjustable auxiliary table section



Jam., 7 'T3958 G. L. RQCK 2,819,132

CHIROPRACTTC TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE TTUXTLTTRY TABLE SECTION med sept. T, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Jan. 7, 1958 G. L. ROCK CHIROPRACTIC TABLE WITH ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY TABLE SECTION Filed Sept. '7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 2,819,132 CHlRoPRACTIC rante v flTH ADJUSTABLE AUXLRY TABLE SECTION -George Rock, Janesville, Mich. Applicalionseptember 7, 1955, Serial No. '532,881

The present invention 'relates to -a novel chiropractic Vtable structure, and more particularly 'to `a novel 'structure Ifor yield-ably and adjustabl'y supporting'a section such as rafh'eadr'est rorfuse `in chiropractic tables, benches, andthe like.

ln-my application Serial No. 366,949, led July 9, 1953, now l'Patent No. 2,753,233, Iuly 3, 1956, there was disclosed an adjustable lheadrestzsupporting structure includingapair/of hydraulic cylinders mounted on acantilever barand pistons slidably disposed in 'thecylinders and connected to a headrest mounting member. Inlmy application Serial No. 366,943, "tiled luly A9, 1953, now Patent No. 2,715,557, August 16, '1955, there was disclosed and claimed a `structure for yieldably supporting a headrest Vso that the headrest would be maintained in an elevated position until a vpredetermined pressure was applied downwardly thereon by a doctor treating a patient whereupon the headrest would be'suddenly released `for a short downward movement which would be abruptly arrested so as to facilitate proper treatment ofthe patient. The present invention relates to an improvement of 'the structures disclosed in the above mentioned co-pending applications.

An object of the present invention iis 'to provide a novel headrest or table supporting structure of the above described type which is of simplified construction so as to promote easier operation thereof and to facilitate more economical manufacturing thereof.

A more speci'iic object of the present invention is to provide a novel simplilied combined structure Vfor 'mount ing a headrest or chiropractic table section for vertical adjustment and for mounting the table section for sudden downward movement only after `a vdoctor has applied a predetermined pressure to a patient resting thereon.y

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simpliied relatively easily operable mechanism for retaining a headrest or table section at an elevated position and releasing the table section for downward movement only after the application of a predetermined pressure thereto, which mechanism may be easily adjusted to vary the pressure at which it will release vthe table section for downward movement.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel simplified and economical hydraulic structure for vertically adjustably supporting a headrest or chiropractic table section.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention Will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view showing a chiropractic table embodying the novel features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the novel structure of this invention with a chiropractic table top and a headrest pad shown in broken lines superimposed thereon;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing ice i?. in greater detail a portion of the connecting structure between one of the piston rods and -a headrest pad supporting member;

Fig. `5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 2.

Referring fnow more specifically to the drawingswher'ein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a chiropractic table 10 embodying the principles of this invention includes a mainframe 12, a main top portion 14 on the 'frame 12, a detachable padded headrest 16, and means r18 for mounting the lheadrest. The hcadrest mounting means has .an auxiliary frame member or bar 420 connected to frame members or rods l22 and 24 which, in turn, are slidably disposed in bearings 26 and 28 in a casting or mounting block 30. The block all is secured to the main frame 12 and has a threaded socket 32 for receiving the upper end of a leg member d. As shown in Fig. 3 the rods y22 and 24 have reduced diameter end portions extending through apertures in flanges 36 and on the frame member or bar 20, and nut members 4t) and 42 are threaded onto the ends of the bars to prevent axial separation or the frame 'member 2l). Since the bars or rods `22 and 24 are slidably dsposed in the mounting block bearings, the headrest may be easily adjusted longitudinally of the main portion of the table merely by pushing or pulling it to the desired position. lt has been found that the frictional Vresistance .between the rods and the bearings,r particularly when a patient is lying on the headrest is suiiicient to prevent the headrest from shifting out of the desired adjusted position.

The headrest member `"i6 is mounted on the auxiliary frame member 2l) for vertical adjustment by means of a pair of hydraulic units 44 and 46 connected at their upper ends to a supporting plate 48. The unit 44 comprises a thin walled hydraulic cylinder v50 which is slidably disposed in an aperture 52 in the frame member 20 and has a sealed lower end 54. The upper end of the cylinder 50 merges with 'a larger cylinder S6 and an annular shoulder '5S is provided at the junction of the cylinders for limiting downward movement of the cylinders with respect 'to the frame member or bar 26. The upper end of the hydraulic cylinder is closed by a cap member 60 having a vent aperture 62 therein. As shown best in Figs. 5 and 6 a piston assembly L64 is mounted on the lower end of a piston r'od 66 and is slidably disposed within the cylinder 50. The piston assembly includes a metal washerl 68 which is slipped over the lower end of the rod 66 and abuts against a snap ring 7d seated in a groove in the rod. A leather washer 72 is held against the metal washer 63 by a member '74 assembled with the lower end or the rod.

The piston rod 66 is in the form of a thin walled tube and a valve body member 'T76 is inserted into the tube in the manner shown with a force t. The body member has an axially extending passageway 78 therethrough which merges with a 'valve seat 80 at itsl lower end, and a transversely extending passageway 32. The passageway 82 intersects the passageway 78 above the piston assembly and also is in alignment with apertures 84 and 86 in the wall of the tube. A ball valve S8 is resiliently urged against the seat Si) by a coil spring supported by an apertured washer 92. The washer 92 is held in position by inwardly swaged lugs 94 on the member 74. With this structure it is seen that the piston will be rigidly supported in any desired adjusted position by the hydraulic uid trapped in the ylower end of the cylinder 44, andthat the piston may be shifted to any desired adjusted position by opening the valve 88 s'o that the fluid may pass through the valve member and to or from the upper and lower sides of the piston. When the piston is being raised the valve opens automatically as a result of the reduced pressure created in the lower end of the cylinder, and a push rod 96 which is operated in the manner described below is provided for opening the valve when it is desired to lower the piston. It should be noted that by making the piston rod or tube 66 so that the wall thereof is relatively thin and by providing the push rod 96 with a relatively small diameter, these elements will displace a relatively small volume of hydraulic i'luid in the cylinder so that the size of the cylinder may be reduced without reducing the length of vertical adjustment permitted thereby.

The cylinder cap 6G has a depending bearing portion 98 which serves to guide the upper end of the piston rod or tube 66. In orderA to wipe the hydraulic coil from the piston rod when the piston is raised, a packing 180 formed from suitable material is compressed between the lower end of the bearing 98 and a jacket member 162. A cornpression spring tlfl is provided for urging the jacket and packing upwardly against the bearing 98, which spring is supported by a washer 106 resting on a conical seat 108. The Washer 1118 has a plurality of apertures 1161 spaced thereon to permit the hydraulic iluid to ilow therethrough.

It Will be appreciated that vent aperture 62 serves to permit air to escape from the top of the cylinder while the piston is being raised so that the pressure in the top of the cylinder will not be increased in a manner which would cause the hydraulic fluid to be forced upwardly through the upper end of the piston rod or tube 66. The vent also prevents a vacuum from being created in the upper end of the cylinder when the piston is lowered. The push rod 96 extends upwardly through an aperture in a guide member 112 secured within the upper end of the tube 66, which aperture is sufiiciently large to vent the interior of the tube to the atmosphere.

The hydraulic unit 46 is identical to the unit 44 and, therefore, need not be described in detail. It suffices to state that the unit 46 includes a cylinder 114'; slidably disi posed in an aperture 116 in the frame member 20 and having a shoulder 118 for engaging the trame member and preventing downward movement of the cylinder. A piston assembly 120 is slidably disposed in the cylinder 114 and mounted on the lower end of a tubular piston rod 122. Check valve means is housed within the piston rod 122, and a push rod 12d` is provided for opening the valve when it is desired to lower the piston. Relatively large apertures 126 and 128 are provided in the piston rod or tube 122 above the valve means for permitting the hydraulic fluids to flow freely between the interior of the tube and the cylinder. A key member 130 is secured to the frame or bar 20 by a screw 132 and projects into a slot 13d in the cylinder to lock the cylinder in assembled relationship with the frame member.

The upper ends of the piston rods 66 and 122 are connected with the headrest supporting plate member 48 in a manner which permits the pistons to be adjusted vertically relatively to each other so as to tilt the headrest. More specifically, a cross pin 136 extends through and is rigidly tixed to the upper end of the piston rod 66 and has outer ends thereof journalled in bearing members 138 and 140. The bearing member has a stud portion with a smooth section 142 disposed in an elongated slot 14d in the plate member 48, and a threaded reduced diameter section 146 for receiving the nut member 148. Preferably, a washer 15@ is disposed between the nut member and the plate member 418. With this arrangement, the bearing member 138 may slide along the slot 144 so as to permit tilting of the plate member d8 without causing binding of: the piston rod 66 in the cylinder. The bearing 161i) has a similar stud portion extending through an elongated slot 162 in the plate member, and a nut member 1511 is applied to this stud portion. A similar cross pin 156 is rigidly connected with the upper end of the piston rod 124 and is journalled in bearings 158 and 160 slidably connected with the plate member 48 in the same manner as the bearings 13S and 140.

In order to depress the push rods 96 and 124 to open the check valves and thereby lower the headrest, an operating member 162 is mounted on the plate member 48. The operating member has a shank portion 164 journalled in a pair of wire bracket members 166 and 168 and an angularly disposed handle portion 178. In vertical alignment with the push rod 96, the operating member is provided with an offset section 172, and in vertical alignment with the push rod 124 the operating member is provided with an otfset section 174. It should be noted that these sections are oiset oppositely from each other so that the operating member must be turned in opposite directions to lower the two pistons. rIhus, the pistons may be lowered individually whereby the headrest may be easily adjusted to any desired angular position even when a patient is supported thereon. A leaf spring 17 6 is mounted on the stud portion of the bearing member and projects between the upper end. of the push rod 9.6 and the offset section 172 of the operating member. Upon rotation of the operating member in the proper direction, the section 172 will depress the spring 176 which, in turn, will depress the push rod 96. When the piston has been lowered the desired amount, the operating member is released by the doctor and the spring 176 automatically returns the operating member to a neutral position. Similarly, a leaf spring 178 is mounted on the stud portion of the bearing member and extends between the upper end of the push rod 124 and the offset section 174 of the operating member.

It is frequently desirable to utilize padded headrest members having different contours and, therefore, the headrest member 16 is detachably mounted on the support plate 48. This is accomplished by providing a pair of bracket straps 181) and 182 which may be secured to the support plate 48 by any suitable means. The strap is provided with slots 184 and 186 and the bracket strap 182 is provided with similar slots 188 and 19t). Headed pins 192 depend from the bottom of the headrest member 16 and are adapted to be inserted into the slots in the bracket straps to connect the headrest member thereto.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention the structure 18 includes a simplified mechanism for supporting the headrest at one position until a predetermined downward pressure has been applied thereto and then releasing the headrest for sudden downward movement which is abruptly arrested. More specifically, a pin 194 is slidably disposed within an aperture in the frame member 20, as shown best in Fig. 5, which pin has a notched end portion 196 interengaging with a notched portion 198 in the hydraulic cylinder section 56 of the hydraulic unit 44. Thus, the pin 194 and the hydraulic cylinder are connected together for movement as a unit. A lower end portion of the pin is recessed so as to provide a generally downwardly facing inclined cam surface 2110 and an upwardly facing shoulder 202. A latch member 2M is slidably disposed within a slot 286 in the frame member 20, which latch member has a cam surface 2198 complementary to and adapted to cooperate with the cam surface 280. In Fig. l the cylinder Si) is shown in its raised position relative to the frame member 20 and in Fig. 5 this cylinder is shown in its lowermost position. When the cylinder 50 is in the raised position, the latch or locking member 20d enters the recess in the pin 194 and the cam surface 268 engages the cam surface 280 to retain the pin 194 and the cylinder in the raised position. Furthermore, the end of the member 2M engages the shoulder 202 on the pin to limit upward movement of the cylinder relative to the frame member 2d. A compression spring 21@ is provided for resiliently holding the member 204 in engagement with the pin 194. When a doctor applies a downward pressure to a patient flying on the -headrest with the cylinder 50 in 4rits 'raised position, Ythe cylinder is retained-against downward `movement relative to the frame member 20 until a predetermined pressure has been applied whereupon `the cam `surfaces 200 and 208 function to shift `the member 204 to the position shown in Fig. so that the cylinder is released for sudden downward movement. This sudden downward movement is abruptly arrested by engagement of the shoulder 58 with the frame member 20 or, preferably, a silencing pad 212 formed of rubber or any other suitable material is mounted on `the frame member for engagement with the shoulder 58. As is fully set forth in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,715,557, this action insures that the doctor will apply only the correct predetermined amount of pressure to the patient. Furthermore, when the headrest is abruptly stopped at the lower limit of its movement, adjustment of the patient occurs as a result of the applied force or pressure which is in the nature of an impact force. This manner of applying the pressure or force to the patient has been found to be highly beneiicial in chiropractic treatments.

In order to raise the headrest and cylinder 50 from the lower position shown in Fig. 5, it is merely necessary for the doctor to exert an upward pull on the headrest. Such upward movement of the headrest is facilitated by providing the pin 194 with a slightly inclined cam surface 212 and by providing the member 204 with a slightly inclined end cam surface 214 so that the member 204 will not unduly bind the pin in its lower position.

The amount of pressure required for proper treatment of various patients will frequently be different, and the mechanism is provided with means whereby the compression of the spring 210 may be easily adjusted so that the latch or locking member 204 will release the pin 194 for downward movement upon the application of different pressures to the headrest. This means includes a slide block 216 abutting the spring 210, and a cam member 218 pivotally mounted on the cylinder 114. As shown in Fig. 3, the cam member has an outwardly projecting handle portion 220 which may be easily grasped by a doctor so that the cam member may be rotated. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the cam member is adjusted so that the slide block 216 is shifted the maximum distance toward the left to place the spring 210 under maximum compression. The edge of the cam member is formed so that as the cam member is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3, the slide member 216 shifts toward the right and the compression of the spring is reduced. It will be noted that movement of the cam member is limited to less than 360 since the handle f portion 220 will engage the frame member 20. Thus, the doctor may quickly and easily adjust the pressure at which the headrest will drop between predetermined limits. A plate member 222 is secured to the bottom of the frame member 20 by a plurality of screws 224 for retaining the locking member 204, the spring 206, the slide block 216 and the cam member in assembled relationship.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. In an apparatus for use in chiropractic treatment, the combination comprising frame means, a hydraulic cylinder shiftably mounted on said frame means for movement to and from upper and lower positions, means for limiting downward movement of said hydraulic cylinder, piston means adjustably disposed in said hydraulic cylinder, support means carried by said piston means for supporting a portion of the body of a patient, means movable with said hydraulic cylinder and providing a generally downwardly facing cam surface inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to the axis of said hydraulic cylinder, and a resiliently biased locking `member shiftably disposed kon said :frame meansrand having agen- -erally upwardly facing cam surface complementary to and engageable with said .first mentioned cam surface for locking said hydraulic cylinder in said upper position until a predetermined downward pressure is `applied to said support means `and for releasing said hydraulic cylinder for sudden downward movement to said lower position when said predetermined pressure is applied to the support means.

2. A combination, as dened in .claim -l, wherein said locking member is engageable with a second surface of said means movable with the hydraulic cylinder when the hydraulic cylinder is in said lower position, said second surface being inclined from the axis of said hydraulic cylinder 'at a relatively small angle so as to facilitate easy movement of the hydraulic cylinder from the lower position to the 4upper position by an operator.

3. A combination, as defined in claim l, wherein said means movable with said hydraulic cylinder includes an upwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said locking member is engageable with said shoulder when the cylinder is in said upper position to limit upward movement of the cylinder.

4. In an apparatus for use in chiropractic treatment, the combination comprising frame means, a hydraulic cylinder shiftably mounted on said frame means for movement to 'and from upper and lower position, piston means adjustably disposed within said hydraulic cylinder, passageway means through said piston means to permit hydraulic fluid to iiow from one end of the cylinder to the other end thereof upon adjustment of the piston means along the cylinder, check valve means in said passageway means for preventing hydraulic iluid from flowing from a lower end of the cylinder to an upper end thereof so that the piston means will -be supported by hydraulic fluid trapped in the lower end of the cylinder, manual means for opening the check valve means to permit lowering of the piston means, support means carried by said piston means for supporting a portion of the body of a patient, and means for locking said hydraulic cylinder in said Iupper position until a predetermined downward -pressure is applied to said support means and for releasing said hydraulic cylinder for sudden downward movement when said predetermined pressure is applied to the support means.

5. In an apparatus for use in chiropractic treatment, the combination comprising frame means, an upright hydraulic cylinder shiftably mounted on said frame means for movement to and from upper and lower positions, a second ,upright hydraulic cylinder mounted on said frame means and spaced from said first mention-ed hydraulic cylinder, a pair of pistons respectively adjustably disposed in said first and second mentioned hydraulic cylinders, a pair of piston rods respectively connected with said pistons and projecting upwardly beyond said hydraulic cylinders, support means for supporting a portion of the body of a patient, means pivotally and shiftably connecting said support means to one of said piston rods, means pivotally connecting said support means to the other of said piston rods, whereby said support means is mounted for vertical and tilting adjustment, means for limiting downward movement of said irst mentioned hydraulic cylinder with respect to said frame means, and means for locking said first mentioned cylinder in said upper position until a predetermined downward pressure is applied to said support means and for releasing said first mentioned hydraulic cylinder for sudden downward movement when said predetermined pressure is applied to said support means.

6. A combination, as defined in claim 5, wherein said locking and releasing means includes a locking member slidably disposed in the slot in the frame means between said hydraulic cylinders, spring means disposed in said slot and yieldably biasing said locking member toward a 'cylinder' locking position, and' a'cm'member pivoilly mounted on said second hydraulic cylinder and operable upon rotation thereof to vary the force applied -by the Vspring means to said locking member so as to `change the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,784 Von Eschen NOV. 14, 1905 S Naysmith NOV. 25, 1913 Naysmith July 6, 1915 Bishop Aug. 15, 1916 Naysmith June 5, 1917 Williams June 11, 1918 Koenig Kramer May 29, 1928 Thompson Dec. 23, 1941 Anderson et al. Dec. 22, 1942 Norris Aug. 14, 1945 Buckley Oct. 16, 1951 Rock Aug. 16, 1955 Rock Iuly 3, 1956 

